Universal Foil Mounting System with Quick Connect &amp; Disconnect

ABSTRACT

A universal, quick release foil mounting system is disclosed. The device is comprised of three mam parts: a first part being a ‘mount plate’ that is fixedly connected to existing kite surfing, windsurfing and standup paddle boarding foils by means of fasteners; a second part being a ‘base plate’ that is fixedly secured to the mast track of existing kite surfing, standup paddle hoarding (SUP) and windsurfing boards—also affixed by means of fasteners; a third part being a quick disconnect system on said mount plate or base plate comprised of, but not limited to catch tabs, locking pins and slide locks etc. The mount plate is configured to receive the base plate and temporarily join the foil mast to the board. An object of the invention is to allow any foil having standard 165 mm×90 mm (6.5″×3.5″) hole mounts (as well as other dimensions) to be quickly installed or removed from a board.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to hydrofoils. Morespecifically, it relates to a quick-disconnect foil mounting retrofitkit that fits onto popular, recreational, hydrofoil boards.

BACKGROUND

The first hydrofoils were developed by Enrico Fodanini in the late 1800sand were comprised of ladder like structures affixed to the sides of aboat. In the early 1900s, Alexander Graham Bell began working onhydrofoils with Fodanini and developed high speed hydrofoil boats thatwere later adopted by the U.S. Navy. Hydrofoils continual to make wavesin recreational venues and water skiers invented the Air Chair™ and theSky Ski™ that allowed riders to sit on small hydrofoils pulled by aboat. Famous waterman Laird Hamilton began standing on these skis andused them to surf waves. Later, kitesurfers began affixing hydrofoils tothe bottom of their boards to be pulled by the wind. Recreationalhydrofoils continue to evolve. European Patent No. 2907737A1 granted toGeislinger disclosed a hydrofoil wing and fuselage assembly for kiteboards but it does not include a quick disconnecting mast. U.S. Pat. No.7,021,232B2 granted to Chen disclosed a self-propelled, human poweredhydrofoil bur does not include a foil that quickly disconnects from theboard. U.S. Pat. No. 9,586,659B2 granted to Langclaan disclosed aself-propelled hydrofoil board; however, the foil is permanentlyanchored to the underside of the board. Many patents exist that disclosehydrofoil systems; however, none were found in the prior art thatrelated to quick-disconnect systems for recreational hydrofoils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to theshortcomings in the prior art through the disclosure of a quickdisconnect retrofit kit that fits onto popular, recreational, hydrofoilboards. An object of the invention is to allow users to quickly mountand dismount a foil to a board having a conventional mast track. Userspermanently affix a base plate to the board and a mount plate to thefoil roast. When ready to foil, the user simply slides the foil withmount plate into the board with base plate and secure the lockingmechanism. When they are finished, they unlock the mechanism and slidethe foil off of the board.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means to allow thedevice to fit into foils having shorter bolt hole configurations. Themounting plate firs on the standard 165 mm×90 mm (6.5″×3.5″)configuration and can also accommodate lengths greater than or shorterthan 165 mm—as such may be the case with larger SUPs and older foilmodels. The mounting plate includes elongated slots to accommodate suchsizes.

Another object of the aforementioned invention is to provide a means toquickly lock the toil to the apparatus without tools to prevent slidingand vibration. The device comes with a locking mechanism, such as athumb screw, catch tabs, locking pins and slide locks etc. that providean extra measure of securement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means to adjust a foil'sposition within a mast track. Standard T-nuts are used to affix theplates together and also mount the foil. Users can simply slide the baseplate into the desired position on the track and tighten the bolts downto the T-nuts inside the track channels.

It is briefly noted that upon a reading this disclosure, those skilledin the art will recognize various means for carrying out these intendedfeatures of the invention. As such it is to be understood that othermethods, applications and systems adapted to the task may be configuredto carry out these features and arc therefore considered to be withinthe scope and intent of the present invention, and are anticipated. Withrespect to the above description, before explaining at least onepreferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and to the arrangement of the components inthe following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventionherein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practicedand carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilledin the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying outthe several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstruction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from thespirit and scope of the present invention. As used in the claims todescribe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising”means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word“comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that thelisted elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements areoptional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meantincluding, and limited to, whatever follow's the phrase “consisting of”.Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements arcrequired or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By“consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed afterthe phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with orcontribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for thelisted elements, Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicatesthat the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that otherelements arc optional and may or may not be present depending uponwhether or not they affect the activity or action of the listedelements.

The objects features, and advantages of the present invention, as wellas the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will becomeapparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by theimprovements described in this specification and hereinafter describedin the following detailed description which fully discloses theinvention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIFFION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate some, but nor the only or exclusive,examples of embodiments and/or features.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the invention on a foil.

FIG. 3 shows an upward-looking, exploded view.

FIG. 4 shows a downward-looking, exploded view.

FIG. 5 shows an off-center, section view.

FIG. 6 shows a center section view.

Other aspects of the present invention shall be more readily understoodwhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and thefollowing detailed description, neither of which should be consideredlimiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

In this description, the directional preposition of up, upwardly, down,downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, tight andother such teems refer to the device as it is oriented and appears inthe drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended tobe limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned inany particular orientation.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 showing a perspective view and a top view of theinvention holding a foil 1 onto board 16. The figure showing the threemain parts of the invention: base plate 4 (selectively affixed to aboard mast track 3); mount plate 15 (selectively affixed to a foil 1);and quick disconnect mechanism 5 (fixedly-secured to said mount plate).Base plate 4 and mount plate 15 having a rectangular shape with aplurality of slots and apertures therein and being made, of a rigidmaterial such as, but not limited to: aluminum, stainless steel, carbonfiber and the like. Said combination of apertures and slotsaccommodating conventional fasteners such as but not limited to bolts,T-nuts and the like and allowing a multitude of foils to the selectivelyaffixed to a varietal of boards having mast tracks thereon.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 showing upward looking and downward-looking, explodedviews with fasteners 5 passing through apertures 9 on foil base 2 andmount plate 15 and affixing to T-nuts 6 to hold said mount plate 15there between. The figures also showing fasteners 6 passing throughapertures on base plate 4 and engaging in T-nuts 12 within mast track 3.The figures also showing and embodiment of quick disconnect mechanism 5as a thumb screw—other embodiments may include hit nor be limited to arelease button, release pin, cam lever and the like.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 showing off-center and center section viewsrespectively. The figures showing fasteners 5 engaged with T-nuts 6 and12 and sandwiching mount plate 15 and base plate 4 and foil base 2 therebetween. FIG. 6 illustrating L-shaped, groove on base plate 4 configuredto receive and engage tongue 7 extending from a proximal portion ofmount plate 15. The aforementioned mating parts within the inventionadding more reinforcement to the connection of a foil to a board.

It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device isshown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of thedevice may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming theinvention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate thedescriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meantto portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope andintent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in anymanner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of theinvention have been shown and described herein, with reference toparticular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, variouschanges and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure andit will be apparent that in some instances, some features of theinvention may lie employed without a corresponding use of other featureswithout departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. Itshould also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, andvariations may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foil mounting system comprised of the followingparts: (a) a base plate; (b) a mount plate; (c) a locking mechanism (d)a multitude of screws; and (c) a plurality of T-nuts.
 2. The mount plateof claim 1 having slots configured to receive bolts positioned inapertures from a multitude of conventional foil masts.
 3. The mountplate of claim 1 having apertures configured to receive bolts positionedin slots from conventional board mast tracks.
 4. The mount and baseplates of claim 1 having interlocking tongues and grooves respectivelyto provide enhanced strength to the connection.
 5. The mount plate ofclaim 1 remaining on a board mast track when not in use.
 6. The baseplate of claim 1 remaining on a foil mast when not in use.
 7. A methodfor connecting a foil to a board, the method comprising: (a) selectivelyconnecting a plurality of foils to a board; (b) quickly connecting afoil to a board; (c) selectively locking a foil to a board; and (d)quickly unlocking a foil from a board.
 8. The method of selectivelylocking a foil to a board of claim 7 wherein no tool is required.